Switch means for controlling an animation device in a figure toy



A. E. GOLDFARB AL 3,531,891

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 hmvrar: 4004! I. 6010/44: 571M!!! I war" Oct. 6, 1970swlwcn MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AN ANIMATION DEVICE IN A FIGURE TOY FiledIarch 1a. 1968 \lN l i m X m m Q Oct. 6, 1970 v GOLDFARB EI'AL 3,531,891

SWITCH MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AN ANIMATION DEVICE IN A FIGURE TOY' FiledMarch 18, 1968 2 Sheets$heet 2 AMA-wrap;

United States Patent Office 3,531,891 SWITCH MEANS FOR CONTROLLING ANANIMATION DEVICE IN A FIGURE TOY Adolph E. Goldfarb, North Hollywood,Calif., and Stanley A. Weston, New York, N.Y., assignors to Mattel,Inc., Hawthorne, Califl, a corporation of California Filed Mar. 18,1968, Ser. No. 713,971

Int. Cl. A63h 33/26 US. Cl. 46-227 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREFlow of electric current to electrically-operated animation means, suchas light bulbs and a buzzer, is controlled by switch means including avibratile contact which may be caused to vibrate by flicking a weightcarried thereby.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention will be setforth in two parts:

Field of the invention The present invention pertains generally toswitch means in figure toys and more particularly to switch means forcontrolling an animation device in a figure toy.

Description of the prior art One example of a switch means forcontrolling an anirnation device in a figure toy includes neon tubeswhich are mounted behind eye-simulating windows in a figure toy. Theneon tubes are caused to blink by capacitors which take a considerableperiod of time to charge to the ionization potential of the neon tubes.The charge on the capacitors drops quickly. Thus, the period when theneon tubes are not glowing is very long, while the period of glow isvery short.

One disadvantage with switches of this type resides in the fact thatneon tubes and capacitors are somewhat complicated and expensive for usein a figure toy.

Another disadvantage resides in the fact that this type of switch meansdoes not readily adapt itself to the rough usage to which the figure toymay be subjected by child users thereof.

Another example of switch means for controlling an animation device in afigure toy includes a light bulb which supplies light to simulated eyes,a simulated nose and a simulated carrot through light piping. Abi-metallic strip is provided in the light bulb to periodicallyinterrupt current flowing to its filament.

Switch means of this type have the disadvantage that the bulb may becomedamaged when the toy is subjected to rough treatment. Additionally, thistype is not readily available in a small enough size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view or" the foregoing factors andconditions characteristic of switch means for controlling an animationdevice in a figure toy, it is a primary object of the present inventionto provide a new and useful switch means not subject to thedisadvantages enumerated above and having a vibratile contact means forrapidly energizing and deenergizing an animation device in a figure toyefiiciently, safely and expeditiously.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch means ofthe type described which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, isof rugged construction and has a long life.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a switch meansof the type described which includes a vibratile contact, which may bevibrated by movement of a weight attached to the vibratile contactmember, for rapidly energizing and deenergizing an animation device in afigure toy.

According to the present invention, a figure toy includeselectrically-operated animation means and means for supplying electriccurrent to the animation means. Flow of current from the supply means tothe animation means is controlled by a new and useful switch meansincluding a fixed contact means, a vibratile contact means engageablewith the fixed contact means, circuit means connecting the contact meansto the animation means and to the current supply means and weight meanscarried by the vibratile contact means for increasing its period ofvibration.

The animation means is shown for purposes of illustration, but not oflimitation, as including a first light bulb mounted in an accessoryholder simulating a ray gun carried by one arm of the figure toy and asecond light bulb mounted in the torso of the figure toy behind a lensmounted in the chest of the figure toy and in light-transmittingrelationship with simulated jewels mounted in the figure toys belt. Thesecond bulb is in communication with elongated light-conducting,object-illuminating rods carrying light from the second bulb to a lensmounted in a helmet on the figure toy. The animation means may alsoinclude an electric buzzer.

The figure toy is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not oflimitation, as comprising a doll simulating an explorer of otherplanets. The switch means of the present invention is mounted in a floorstand electrically connected to the feet of the doll. This stand alsohouses a pair of dry cells for energizing the animation means.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to thelike elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view,with parts broken away to show internal construction, of a figure toy ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view of the toy of FIG. 1, withparts broken away to show internal construction;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of an electrical supply andcontrol means forming part of the toy of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an illuminateable accessory means which may beconnected to the toy of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view taken along line 55of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring againto the drawings,a figure toy constituting a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention, generally designated 10, is shown herein for purposes ofillustration, but not of limitation, as comprising a doll having a torso12 to which a pair of legs 14, 16 are connected. A left arm 22 and aright arm 24 are swingably connected to torso 12 by any suitable means,such as the connecting means 26 shown for the right arm 24. Connectingmeans 26 includes a hollow boss 28 which is formed integrally with arm24 and which is rotatably received in a hollow cylindrical member 30provided on torso 12. Boss 28 carries a finger 34 engageable with afirst stop pin 36 (FIG. 2) and a second stop pin 38 limit- 3 ingmovement of arm 24 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to thedownwardly-directed position shown in FIG. 1.

Torso 12 is provided with a cylindrical neck post non-rotatablyreceiving a doll head 42. Torso 12 includes a chest portion 44 which isprovided with an aperture 46 in which a light-transmitting lens 48 maybe mounted. The play value of toy 10 may be enhanced by impartingsuitable colors, such as red, blue, green or the like, to lens 48,through suitably colored glass or plastic buttons 49. A hollow bracket50 extends from the side wall 52 of torso 12 laterally across lens 48 inalignment therewith and carries a small light bulb 58 maintained inposition therein by a clip 59. A light-conducting illuminating rod 60has one end portion 62 received in bracket 50 and includes a first leg64 extending upwardly through neck post 40 to a position behind a lens65 mounted in a helmet 66 and a second leg 67 extending from a secondend 68 of leg 64 to lens 65.

An accessory holder 86 may be provided on the end of arm 24 for bothsimulating a ray gun and for receiving accessories which may beilluminated by a light bulb 88 provided in accessory holder 86.Accessory holder 86 includes a housing 89 having a front, recessed wall92. Front wall 92 is provided with an aperture 94 in which an accessoryreceiver 96 in mounted. Receiver 96 includes a rear cylindrical portion98 receiving light bulb 88 and a front, open portion 100 adapted toreceive suitable accessory means, such as a simulated gun barrelextension (FIG. 4).

The simulated gun barrel extension 105 includes a lighttransmitting rod134 having a first end 136 engageable in open end 1000 of receiver 96and a second end 138. Rod 134 is encompassed by a plurality oflight-transmitting discs 140 of decreasing diameter from end 136 to end138. The lens 48, rods 60 and 134 and discs 140 may be made from a clearplastic material, such as Lucite.

Torso 12 maybe molded from suitable plastics of types well known tothose skilled in the doll making art and includes a simulated waist belt142 and a pair of simulated shoulder straps 144, 146 extending upwardlyfrom a simulated buckle 148 on belt 142 to right shoulder 150 and leftshoulder 152, respectively, of doll 10. Belt 142 and straps 144, 146 maybe formed integrally with torso 12 and are provided with a plurality ofapertures 154 in which stems 156 of colored translucent buttons 158 areengaged.

Doll 10 may be supported on a simulated space station or floor stand 160which includes a housing 162 having a top wall 164, a front wall 166, arear wall 168, a pair of side walls 169, and a bottom wall 171. Housing162 is provided with a battery chamber 172 adapted to receive a pair ofdry cells 173 and 174. An electrical conductor 182 is mounted on frontwall 166 and includes a first end 184 engageable with the positiveterminal 186 on dry cell 174. Conductor 182 also includes a second end188 engageable with the negative terminal 189 on dry cell 173.

The negative terminal 190 on dry cell 174 is engaged by an electricalcontact 192 provided on a partition 194 in housing 162. The positiveterminal 208 on dry cell 173 engages an electrical contact 210 providedon partition 194. A vibratile switch means 224 is electrically connectedto contact 210 through a switch 225 by first, second and third leads226, 227 and 228, respectively, a moveable contact 229 in switch 225, afixed contact 230 and a fourth lead 232. Switch means 224 includes avibratile contact means 233 having a first end 234 afiixed to a post 235provided in housing 162 and a free end 236 to which a weight 237 isaflixed. Switch means 224 also includes a =fixed electrical contact 238which is engaged intermittently by vibratile contact means 233 when itis vibrated. Weight 237 continues vibratile contact means 233 in motionwhen it is flicked by a user of toy 10. Vibratile contact means 233 maybe made from an electricalconducting material which is somewhat springyso that vibratile contact means 233 will continue to vibrate under theinfluence of weight 237 and initial flicking force is removed.

A lead 240 connects vibratile contact means 233 to a fixed contact 242affixed to tap wall 164 of housing 162 for engagement by a contact 244affixed to leg' 16 of doll 10. A lead 246 extends up through leg 16 andconnects contact 244 to bulb '58 which, in turn, is connected by leads248 and 250 to a fixed contact 252 carried by leg 14 of doll 10. A fixedcontact 254 is mounted in top wall 164 and is engaged by contact 252when doll 10 is maintained in position on top wall 164 by a stirrupmeans 256 mounted thereon. Contact 254 is connected to contact 192 inbattery chamber 172 by a lead 258 which, in turn, is connected to abuzzer 260 by a lead 262.

Buzzer 260 includes a coil 264 forming a part of an electro-magnet 266carried by an L-shaped arm 268 formed on a bracket 270 afllxed topartition 194. Magnet 266 includes an armature 272 adapted to attract abuzzer arm 274 when coil 264 is energized. Buzzer arm 274 is affixed tobracket 270 by a resilient contact-carrying conductor 276 provided withan electrical contact 278 normally biased into engagement with a fixedcontact 280-. Contact 280 is aflixed to wall 168 and is connected tocoil 264 by a lead 282. Resilient conductor 276 is connected to switch225 by a first lead 284, leads 227, 228 and move able contact 229.Resilient conductor 276 is connected to bracket 270 by a first fasteningmeans 286 and to arm 274 by a second fastening means 288.

Bulb 88 (FIG. 3) is connected by a lead 290 to lead 250 and by a lead292 to a contact 294 carried by leg 16 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Contact 294 isengageable with a fixed contact 296 mounted on tap wall 164 andconnected to switch 225 by a lead 298 and lead 228. Leads 290 and 292pass through boss 28' and arm 24 to bulb 88. Stops 36 and 38 limitrotation of arm 24 to prevent damage to leads 290 and 292.

In use, bulbs 58 and 88 and buzzer 260 may be energized by closingswitch 225. Intermittent operation may then be instituted by flickingweight 237 causing vibratile contact means 233 to vibrate into and outof engagement with fixed contact 238.

While the particular figure toy and switch means combination hereinshown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objectsand providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understoodthat it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention and that no limitations are intended to the details ofconstruction and design herein shown other than as defined in theappended claims, which form a part of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a figure toy having electricallyoperatedanimation means and switch means for supplying electric current to saidanimation means, said switch means comprising:

fixed contact means;

mechanically vibratile contact means movable, when vibrating, cyclicallyinto and out of engagement with said fixed contact means; and

circuit means connecting said contact means to said animation means andto said current supply means.

2. A combination as stated in claim 1 wherein said vibratile contactmeans carries a weight for increasing the vibration period.

3. A combination as stated in claim 1 wherein said animation meansincludes a first light bulb means mounted in said figure toy and a lensprovided in said figure toy in alignment with said first light bulbmeans.

4. A combination as stated in claim 3 wherein said figure toy includesan arm and an accessory holder affixed to said arm, said animation meansincluding a second light bulb means mounted in said accessory holder.

5. A combination as stated in claim 4 including an accessory piececonnectable to said accessory holder for illumination by said secondlight bulb means.

6. A combination as stated in claim 5 wherein said animation means alsoincludes an electric buzzer.

7. A combination as stated in claim 1 wherein said switch means ismounted in a housing comprising a stand for said figure toy, said standincluding electric contact means engageable with like contact meansprovided on said figure toy for electrically connecting said figure toyto said stand.

8. A combination as stated in claim 1 wherein said animation meansincludes:

a light bulb means;

a light-transmitting elongated element in communication with said lightbulb means; and

an illuminateable object affixed to said elongated element.

9. A combination as stated in claim 1 wherein said vibratile contactmeans comprises a springly member having one end fixed adjacent saidfixed contact means and a free end, said free end being provided with aweight and extending exteriorly of said toy.

10. A combination as stated in claim 9 including a fioor stand housingsaid fixed contact means and said vibratile contact means, said figuretoy including legs removably and electrically connected to said stand.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,115,533 4/1938 Meyers 46--227 X2,310,037 2/1943 Reno 46226 X 2,933,853 4/1960 Laval 46-228 3,221,12011/1965 Mooney et al 335-90 3,232,004 2/1966 Felshcr 46228 X FOREIGNPATENTS 584,648 11/1958 Italy.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

